Insect Resistance Management

In order to preserve trait durability, it is everyone’s responsibility to prevent insecticide resistance from occurring. Implementing a robust IRM plan that is part of a larger Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy is the most effective way to prevent resistance from occurring. That includes multiple Best Management Practices (BMPs).

One important component of a successful management plan is to plant a block of corn that does not control the target pest(s), known as a refuge, near insect-protected hybrids. The refuge sustains a population of susceptible target pests to mate with any rare resistant species that may emerge from these same or nearby corn hybrid.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a refuge on every farm that plants insect-protected hybrids. Failure to plant the appropriate refuge jeopardizes continued access to trait technology.

Different hybrid or trait packages may have different IRM requirements. On-farm mixing of any seed is not an approved method to comply with stewardship requirements. Always check the bag tag to ensure the accurate refuge size requirements.

	Size Requirment (Corn-Growing Region)¹	Size Requirment (Cotton-Growing Region)¹
ABOVE- AND BELOW-GROUND TRAIT STACKS	5% in the bag E-Z Refuge^®	20% Supplemental refuge² Within field or adjacent





	20% in field/ajacent	20% in field/ajacent
	20% in field/ajacent	50% in field/ajacent
ABOVE-GROUND TRAIT STACKS	5% in the bag E-Z Refuge^®	20% supplemental refuge2 Within field, adjacent or up to a ½ mile away


	20% within, adjacent or up to a ½ mile away	20% within, adjacent or up to a ½ mile away
	20% within, adjacent or up to a ½ mile away	20% within, adjacent or up to a ½ mile away

DOWNLOAD REFUGE SIZE REQUIREMENTS

IRM Compliance Assurance Program

Syngenta Seeds and other industry registrants of trait products that provide insect-protected hybrids have coordinately developed and implemented the EPA-mandated Insect Resistance Management (IRM) Compliance Assurance Program. This program requires corn seed companies to evaluate the extent to which growers are adhering to the IRM requirements and ensure that those who do not are brought back into compliance. Growers who do not meet IRM requirements for two years within a five-year period may be denied access to hybrids with Syngenta insect-protected traits in the third year.

On-Farm Assessments: To assess compliance, Syngenta Seeds and other seed companies will conduct on-farm assessments of randomly selected customers who purchased hybrids with Agrisure insect-protected traits. Following each on-farm assessment, Syngenta will determine if the grower is in compliance based on EPA requirements.

Responding to Non-Compliance: All growers found to be out of compliance will receive a letter informing them of their compliance infraction, reminding them of their compliance obligations and the consequences of not adhering to the requirements. Included in each letter will be further instructional information on how to develop and implement a suitable IRM program for their farm. Additionally, any grower found to be out of compliance will receive a follow-up IRM assessment the next growing season.

IRM Tips Line: Seed companies that sell insect-protected hybrids are required by the EPA to establish a system to collect information about alleged instances of non-compliance with the IRM requirements. Syngenta Seeds has established a toll-free IRM Tips & Complaints phone line which is 1-877-GRO-CORN (877-476-2676).

Resources

Corn Rootworm Best Management Practices

Refuge Planting for IRM

¹THE FOLLOWING STATES AND COUNTIES ARE CONSIDERED CORN-GROWING AREAS: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO (all counties except Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard), MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK (all counties except Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kay, Kiowa, Tillman and Washita), OR, PA, RI, SD, TN (all counties except Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lincoln, Madison, Obion, Rutherford, Shelby and Tipton), TX (only the counties of Carson, Dallam, Hanford, Hartley, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Roberts and Sherman), UT, VT, VA (all counties except Dinwiddie, Franklin City, Greensville, Isle of Wight, Northampton, Southampton, Suffolk City, Surrey and Sussex), WA, WV, WI and WY. THE FOLLOWING STATES AND COUNTIES ARE CONSIDERED COTTON-GROWING AREAS: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MO (only the counties of Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard), MS, NC, OK (only the counties of Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kay, Kiowa, Tillman and Washita), SC, TN (only the counties of Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lincoln, Madison, Obion, Rutherford, Shelby and Tipton), TX (all counties except Carson, Dallam, Hanford, Hartley, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Roberts and Sherman) and VA (only the counties of Dinwiddie, Franklin City, Greensville, Isle of Wight, Northampton, Southampton, Suffolk City, Surrey and Sussex). ²Assumes a common corn borer and rootworm refuge. Alternatively, a separate rootworm refuge within or adjacent to the field and a corn borer refuge up to a half mile away could be planted.

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© Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label and bag tag instructions; only those labeled as tolerant to glufosinate may be sprayed with glufosinate ammonium-based herbicides. LibertyLink^®, Liberty^® and the Water Droplet logo are registered trademarks of BASF. HERCULEX^® and the HERCULEX Shield are trademarks of Corteva Agriscience LLC. HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Corteva Agriscience LLC. YieldGard VT Pro^® is a registered trademark used under license from the Bayer Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.